The feel of Zoey’s soft and warm hand over mine snatched my attention right away. I looked up and found her imploring eyes.
“You are and have always been a phenomenal father to Jordan. You sacrifice so much of your time to be with him. You’re right, people don’t know how you make so many concessions in your schedule to be present in his life and not just write a check, but Jordan Rogers feels it and will soon articulate it. As to your past…what’s contributed to your greatness: you be sure to share that side of your process with him and I have no doubt he’ll be just as taken and impressed as I am.”
I didn’t say anything for a while. I didn’t believe there was a need to. She understood me. Zoey got me. With those few words she told me she had my back, she was impressed. That shit meant the world to me. Finally, I nodded.
Her expression changed abruptly as though she had just been hit with a thought. “Hey, I TiVo’d old Linkin Park and Nine Inch Nails MTV Unplugged episodes that I haven’t had the time to get to. I haven’t told him, and I don’t think it’s time for JR to come home and see you like this. He’s having a blast and isn’t exactly ready to end his time with his cousins anyway. How about we veg out in front of the television and watch those recordings?”
Zoey’s smile was so bright with enthusiasm, it hurt my eyes. How could I say no? Besides, I wasn’t ready to leave and face the world just yet. I don’t know what was on my back, but I felt like I needed the break, needed the hideaway.
“I’d like that a lot.”
She shrieked. “This is going to be so fun! I just need to run two errands and I’ll be right back.” She paused, thoughtful again. “While I’m out, why don’t you call and check on Jackson. He could probably use his father’s last words regarding him right now.”
“I think I’ll do just that.” Then we spoke at the same time. “After I call Sarah Barrett.”
“After you call Sarah Barrett!” She pointed her index finger at me.
Once we realized we’d parroted each other, Zoey and I both broke into laughter. It was one of the first we’d shared in a year, and one of many over the next few days.
Zoey left to run a few errands for work. While she was out, I called Sarah to let her know I was fine and filled her in on my loss of a friend. I also called my management team to make them aware of my hiatus for the next few days…or so. I couldn’t believe how I was able to relax at Zoey’s place. It was foreign to me, in spite of my son living there and me paying the mortgage on it. Just as I’d assessed two years ago, my first visit without Jordan, this was Zoey’s place. And it felt damn good to find restoration here.
We did watch television together later that night. Zoey had commentary during each song, but that didn’t bother me in the least. I appreciated the conversation over good music. She cooked dinner and made two loaves of cream cheese pound cake to perfection. I guessed I enjoyed it too much based on her jokes about the speed with which it took me to get to the second loaf. I don’t recall laughing so hard since…well, since Zoey. We stayed up pretty late, calling it a night sometime after midnight.
“I can park it here for the night,” I yawned.
“Nah. That’s okay. I think this is more my size than yours,” Zoey noted.
I observed the length of the sofa. While it was deep and long, it wasn’t as generous in size as I needed. Zoey started out of the room. When she returned with linen she stopped abruptly.
“There’s no way I’m sleeping on the love seat, so you’re going to have to move unless you want me to pass out on you. Trust me, I’m not as small as I used to be.”
You damn sure aren’t. I made sure my greedy eyes didn’t assess her hips that had spread since meeting her.
My lids closed and I fought the urge to shake my head to discard the thoughts that populated.